Shoe-shining machine.



E. T. S. CLIFFE.

SHOE SHINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 19 18 1,289,1 17. Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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SHOE SHINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I3. 1918 1,28%1 17 Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY I3 1918. Patented Dec.

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SHOE SHINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. ms.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

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ELZA 'r. CLIFFE, or MANSFIELD, o'mo.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Decfill, 1918.

Application filed may 13, 1918. Serial No. amass.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELZA T. S. CLrrFna v tor and shafting; brush cases and raising citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Shoe- Shinin Machines, of which the following is a speci cation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to a shoe cleaning and shining machine, and more particularly to thattype of coin controlled machine in which the '-feet are inserted to have the shoes thereon automatically cleaned, blackened and polished.

My invention aims to provide a safe, durable and compact machine of the above type which may be characterized in the following particulars. First, there are novel endless brushing elements that are brought into 7 action to remove dirt, dust and foreign matter from the shoes, and novel means is em ployed, in a manner as hereinafter set forth for tilting or oscillating the endless brush elements so that the exposed portion of the shoes will be thoroughly operated upon by the brush elements to clean the shoes preparatory to receiving polish. Irrespective of the tilting or oscillatory movement of the brush elements, said elements are maintained in motion, and this is accomplished by a mechanism that is positive in its action and free from injury under ordinary circumstances.

Second, the machine includes what may be termed neumatic means for applying a liquid blac ening to the shoe, the blackening being sprayed on the sides of the shoe so that the edges of the shoe sole and the upper will receive a thin film of the blackening liquid. The liquid is applied by ejec tors receiving a supply of air from-an air pump operated in connection with the machine, and this pump also supplies air for drying the blackening, thus preventing the brushes from being laden with blackening and in all probability-rendered useless for polishing purposes.

Third, my machine is characterized by electrical controlling devices so that certain operations may take place in sequence and the'machine be restored to normal condi-.

tions after a pair of shoes has been operated upon.

The above briefly outlines a machine which includes the following principal elementsnamely, a housing, foot rest, m0-

and lowering mechanismthereof; tilting or osclllating mechanism for the brush cases; blackening and air applying apparatus;

electric .controllingdevices for the blackening'and air applyingapparatus, and coin and electric controlling devices of the machine. These elements will be hereinafter separately and specifically described in detail, together with the novel arrangement and-objects accomplished from such a combination of elements.

of. looking at the greater portion of the machine;

Fig. 3 is aplan of a portion of the machine, showing in dotted lines the blackening and air applying apparatus;

Fig. 4 is an en arged horizontal sectional view of a portion of one of the brushes;

I Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a por tion of a brush casing,

' Fig. 6 is a plan of the greater part of the madchine with the housing thereof removed, an

Figs. 7 and 8 show detail views of a belt shifting device that may be used as part of the machine. I

In describing -my invention by aid of the views above referred to, I- desire to point out that .the same are-merely illustrative of an example whereby my invention may be ut into practice, and I do not care to con ne myself to theprecise construction or ar- Housing, foot rest, motor and skafting.

The housing, is substantially rectangular and includes a base 1 and particularly a horizontally hinged or pivoted shutters or shields 8, which are held normally opened by coiled springs 9, connecting the shields 8 and the top wall 5 of the casing 4. The hinges which connect the shields 8 to the casing 4 have the pintles 10 thereof provided with cranks 11, and when. placing the feet in position said cranks are engaged by the shoes and shifted'rearwardly', asfindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus closing the shields 8 above the "shoes. The shields 8 are recessed, as at 12, so as to cotiperate with the recess 6 of the top wall 5 in providing clearance for the ankles. The shields 8 are adapted to prevent trousers, skirts. or clothingfrom being splashed with blackening and serve as an air deflector, said shields automatically assuming an open position as the feet are removed from the casing 4.

In the housing, on the base 1 thereof. are uprights 13 each provided with a footrest 14 in the openings 3, said rests correctly positioning shoes or footwear to be cleaned and polished. The uprights 13 are preferably located at the forward end of the housing and at the rear end ofthe housing, on the base 1, is an electric motor 15 adapted to be operated from a suitable source of electrical energy, such as an ordinary electric lighting circuit (not shown). I

On the base 1 are a set of A-frames 17, a set of cam frames 18, and another set of A-frames 19. The A-frames 19 are adjacent the motor 15 and journaled in said A-frames is a power transmission shaft 20 provided with a belt-wheel 21 in a vertical plane with a belt-wheel 22 on the armature shaft 23 of the motor 15 and trained about the beltwheels 21 and 22 is a belt 24.

The cam frames 18 have bearings 25 and 26 for crank shafts 27 and 28 respectively, the crank shaft 27 having a set of cranks 29 and the crank shaft 28 a set of cranks 30.

On the shafts 20 and 27 are belt-wheels 31 and 32 respectively, and trained about said belt-wheels is a belt 33.

On the shafts 20 and 28 are belt-wheels 34 and 35 respectively and trained about said belt-wheels is a belt 36.

Another shaft 37 is journaled in the A- frames 17 and on the endof said shaft is a'belt wheel 38 alining with a belt wheel 39 on the shaft 20. Over the belt wheels 38 and 39 is trained a belt 40.

From the above it will be noted that power may be transmitted from the electric motor to the shafts 20, 28, 27 and 37 and while I have herein referredto belt wheels and belts, it is obvious that the sprocket Wheels and chains or other power transmitting mechanism can be employed.

Brush cases and raising and lowering mechanz'sm thereof.

Below each footrest 14 is a hollow case 41 having an opening 42 therethrough that conforms in contour to the marginal edges of a shoe sole, said opening providing clearance for the shoe on the foot rest, when the case 41 is raised, tilted or oscillated. Each case 41 has the inner side'thereofopenand the top and. bottom wall provided with. guides 42 for rollers 43 carried. by the up per and lower ends of links 44 which are connected and compose anendless brush chain. Each link has the outer face thereof provided with bristles or a brush 45 and the inner face of-each link has teeth 46 adapted. to mesh with worms 47 in the hollow sides of the cases 41. The worms 47 are mounted on shafts 48 journaled in bearings 49. carried by' the outer side wall of each case,- and on the shafts 48 are worms 50 that rest on and mesh with gear wheels 51. There are four of the gear wheels 51 all mounted on a common shaft 52, journaled in bearings. 53 having arms 54 slidable in guides 55. carried'by the A-frames 17.

On the shaft 52 are gear wheels '56 meshing with large gear wheels 57 mounted on the shaft 37, and said large gear wheels have depressed portions 58, as best shown in Fig. 1, which cause the shaft 52 to be raised and lowered and at the same time Tilting or oscillatory mechanism for the brush cases.

The cam frames 18 have cam grooves or slots 62 for anti-frictional rollers 63 onthe ends of a shaft 64 which is adapted to be moved throughout the cam grooves of the cam frames 18. The shaft 64 has sets of flanged collars 65 and 66, the former adapted to be engaged by the cranks 29 of the shaft 27, and the latter by the cranks 30 of the shaft 28, the cranks 29 being employed to partially elevate the shaft 64 and cranks 30 to lower said shaft.

Loose on the shaft 64 are the lower ends 67 of pitmen 68 said pitmen having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected, as

at 69, to the rear ends of the cases 41. The rear ends of the cases are also connected by coiled retractile springs to the casing 4, and the retractile force of said springs is 'sufiicient to restore said cases to normal horizontal positions, as will hereinafter appear.

Btackening and air applying apparatus.

On the top wall 2, within the casing 4, or at some convenient location, is a main reservoir 71 adapted to contain a blackening liquid, ,which is fed by gravity or siphoned into auxiliary reservoirs 72 by pipes or tubes 73. The auxiliary reservoirs are secured to the bottom side of the top wall 2 contiguous. to the front and rear ends of the openings 3, and extending through said auxiliary reservoir and communicating therewith are air supply pipes 74:. The pipes 74 extend to nozzles} 5 located in or on the marginal edges of the top wall openings 3, as shown in Fig. 3, said nozzles being distributed so as to direct blackening and air to the exposed portions of the shoe.

The air supply pipes 74: are in communication with a conventional form of air. pump 76, supported from one of the A frames 19,

cranks 82. One end 'of each crank has a nveight 83 that maintains the valve in the auxiliary reservoir normally closed, and the opposite end of the crank serves as an arma-.

ture 84 and is limited in its movement in one direction by asuitable stop on the auxiliary reservoir.

On the air supply pipes 74:, contiguous to the air pump 76, is a valve 85 that is normally closed by a weighted crank 86 and one end of the crank serves as an armature.

Electric controlling devices for the blackening and air apparatus.

- On the base Ladjacent one end of the shaft 27, are switches 87 and 88 that are normally open, the switch 87 controlling the supply of blackening to the nozzle 75, and the switch 88 controlling the supply of air. The switch 87 has wires 89 tapped into the lead-in wires to the motor 15 and the wires 89 are also connected to electro-magnets 90 on the auxiliary reservoirs 72 ad acent the armatures 84, so that whensald electro-magcontrols the operation of the same.

nets are energized, the armatures 84 will be attracted to open the valves within the auxiliary reservoirs 72, thereby permitting air to remove blackening from the auxiliary reservoirs and discharge the same at the nozzles 75.

u The air switch 88 is connected by wires 91 to an electro-magnet 92 adjacent the valve 85, said electro-magnet and said switch being in circuit with the lead-in wires to the motor 15. When the electro-magnet 92 is energized the valve 85 is opened, thus permitting the supply of air to flow toward the auxiliary reservoirs 72.

To actuate the switches 87 and 88 and close and open the same in proper sequence, the

end. of the shaft 27 has a cam wheel 93 provided with cams 943 and 95, the former being of less length than the latter. The cams 94 and 95 are adapted to simultaneously close the switches 87 and 88, but the switch 88 is maintained closed for a greater period of time than the switch 87, due to the length of the cam 95. It is therefore possibleto inject or force a quantity of blackening from the auxiliary reservoirs on to the shoes and then cut off the supply of blackening, with the air continuing whereby the blackening applied to the shoes will be dried thereon.

Gain and electric controlling device of the machine.

It is necessary that there be a cessation in the operation of a portion of the machine while blackening is being applied. to the shoes and dried thereon, so the shaft 37 has the other end thereof provided with a clutch 96 operated by a lever 97 pivoted on an electro-magnet 98 supported from one of the A-frames 17. One end of the lever 97 serves as an armature for the electro-magnet 98 and said armature is normally held retracted by a coiled spring 99. The electro-magnet 98 is in circuit with the motor 15 and is con- I nected by wires 100 to a normally open switch 101 located below a cam wheel 102 on the shaft 27, said cam wheel having a cam 103 adapted to close the switch 101. By

reference to Fig. 1; it will be observed that the cam 103 is brought into action simultaneously with the cams 94c and 95, consequently the switch 101 will be closed to energize the electro-magnet 98, actuate the lever 97 and disengage the clutch 96. so that that portion of the machine operated through the medium of the shaft 37 is discontinued until after blackening and air have been applied to the shoe.

Another switch is located on the 'hase 1 of the machine. said switch being in the form of a knife switch having a knife carried by pivoted spring retracted lever 105 actuated by a solenoid 106 to close the knife switch, which is in circuit .with the motor 15 and The solenoid 106 is connected by wires 107 to con-' tact members 108 and 109. The contact member 108 is in a coin chute 110 located in the upper part of a housing and adapted to have a coin 111 deposited therein. The contact member 109 is pivotally supported and held by a spring with one end of said contact member extending into the coin chute to be engaged by the coin 111 {when deposited therein, said coin connecting or bridging the 1 contact members 108 and 109 thereby closing the electric circuit for the solenoid 106. The knife lever 105 of the knife switch 104 has a lug or stop 112adapt ed to engage in a notch provided therefor at the periphery of a whee1'113 mounted on the shaft '27, and it is this electric coin control mechanism that locks and unlocks the machine after and before its use.

In lieu of the clutch 96 and its electrical operating means, I may employ the. automatic belt shifting device shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The shaft 37 is arranged to slide in its bearings with the gear wheels 56 of suf ficient width to at all times mesh with the gear wheels 57. On the end of the shaft is an idle belt wheel 120 adapted to receive the belt 40, when the shaft 37 is shifted, and to accomplish this, the frame 17 has a cam member 121 normally engaged by a shift-- lngmember 122 fixed on the shaft 37, said.

shiftingv member being held. in engagement with the cammember 121 by a forked lever 123 pivotally connected to the frame 17 and furthermore connected thereto. by a coiled retractile sprin 124. A forked arm 125' tions 58 of the large gear wheels 57, permit of the bearings 53 being in lowered positions, therefore the cases 41 will be held below the foot rests 14 and permit of a person easily placing his or her feet on the foot rests.

- When the coin 111 is deposited in the machine, a circuit is temporarily established through the solenoid 106 and the cam wheel 113 .is released. While the coin 111 is maintaining a closed circuit through the contact members 108 and 109, preparatory to dropping out ofv the chute 110, the knife switch 104 has been closed thereby starting the mo- .tor 15,'said motor through its power transmission mechanism moving the wheel 113 sufficiently to prevent the lug or stop 112 enpositions shown inFig. 1. During the raising of the cases 41 the endless brushes therein are set in motion and the sides of the shoes will be cleansed of dirt, dust and such other matter as can be removed by the brushes.

According to. the transmission mechanism shown, the shafts 37 and 20 are driven at the same speed, but the shafts 27 and 28 are driven at a reduced speed, approximately half that of the former. It is therefore possible forthe large gear wheels 57 to make one. complete revolution before any 'of the remainder of the machine is placed in operation, and it is during this complete revolution that the cases 41 are raised to clean the shoes and then lowered to normal p i Assuming that this operation has taken place, the cams 103, 94 and 95 are brought into action in conjunction with the switches 1'01, 87 and 88. The switch- 101, through the medium of the solenoid 98 and the clutch 96 causes a cessation in the raising and low ering mechanism of the'cases 41, also the brushes therein, and the blackening and air supply apparatus is brought into action. As previously pointed out, theswitches 87 and 88 are simultaneously closed, thereby opening the valve 85 of the air supply and the valves within the auxiliarv reservoirs 72, allowing the pressure of air to eject blackening from the nozzles 75 to the shoes. When a predetermined quantity of blackening has been applied, the valves within the auxiliary reservoirs 72 are closed by the opening of the switch '87,.which deenergizes the 'electro-magnets 90 and permits of the weighted cranks 82 shutting off the supply of blackening. The air, however, is permittedto flow and is discharged by thenozzles 1.15

.75 against the shoes to dry the blackening thereon. This operation continues until the cam 95 releases the switch 88, deenergizing the electro-mag'net 92, and permitting the weighted crank 86 to close the valve 85.

By this time the cam 103 has permitted the switch 101 to. open, deenergizing the electro-magnet 98, and permittingthe lever 97 to throw in the clutch' 96, thereby establishing a driving relation between. the motor 15 and the shaft 37.

The cases 41 are again raised and the brushes therein set in motion and during this operation the cases 41 are tilted through the medium of the cranks 29 and 30, shaft mean? 29 beingswung about engage the flange collars 65 and shift the shaft 64 to the upper.

ends ofthe cam grooves 62. As the cranks 29 pass out of. engagement with the flange collars 65,'the cranks 3O engage in the flange collars66 of the shaft 64 and shifts said shaft to the lower ends of the cam grooves 62 from which position the shaft 64 is restored to normal position by the springs 7 0 connected to the rear end of the cases 41.

The tilting of the cases 41 is permissible through the medium of the brackets 61 with the studs or trunnions 59 extending into the slots 60 also by reason of the worm and gear power transmission between the shaft 52 and the endless brushes 45. By tilting the cases 41 the uppers of the shoe are polished, as well as the heel and other parts adjacent the sole of the shoe. After this operation the case 41 are eventually lowered; the

lug or stop 112 snapped into the notch of the wheel 113, thereby breaking the circuit of the motor 15 and causing a cessation in the operation of the machine.

As the shoes are removed from the rests 14 thesprings 9 open the shields 8 and the machine is now in condition for cleaning and shining another pair of shoes.

1. A shoe shining machine comprising cases. adapted to surround'shoes, movable brushes in said cases, means. adapted for simultaneously raising and lowering said cases and moving the brushes therein, means adapted for supplying .blackening and air to the shoes while said cases are lowered, and means adapted for tilting said cases when said cases are elevated.

2. A shoe shining machine comprising a shoe rest, a blackening and air supplying apparatus adjacent said shoe rest and adapted to successively apply blackening and air to shoes on said rest, electrically controlled valvular means adapted to cause a cessation in the blackening of the shoes and a continuation of the application of air thereto, and means tiltable relative to the shoes adapted for polishing the shoes after the application of air.

3. In a shoe shining machine, the combination of cases adapted to surround shoes, movable endless brushes in said cases, means including gears adapted to simultaneously raise and lower said cases relative to the shoes, and impart movement to said brushes,

' pitmen connected to said cases, a shaft conbrushes in-said cases, means adapted to simultaneously raise and lower said cases and impart movement to said brushes, nozzles adjacent said cases and adapted to successively apply blackening and air to the shoes when said cases are lowered, electric means adapted to control the supply of'blackening andair to said nozzles in timed relation to the raising and lowering of said cases, and means including pitmen and springs adapted for tilting said cases in timed relation to the application of blackening and air to the shoes.

5. In a shoe shining machine, the combination of cases adapted to surround shoes, movable brushes in said cases, means including gears adapted for raising and lowering said cases and setting said brushes in motion, reservoirs adjacent said cases containing blackening and in communication with a supply of air under pressure adapted to eject blackening from said reservoirs, on to the hoes when said cases are lowered, electric means controlling the supply of air under pressure for ejecting blackening from said reservoirs, electric means controlling the ejection of blackening from said reservoirs independent of the electric means controlling the air supply, and mean operated in timed relation to the raising and lowering of said cases adapted to control both of said electric,

means.

6. In a shoe shining machine, the combination of cases adapted to'surround shoes, movable endless brushes in said cases, means adapted for simultaneously operating said brushes and raising and lowering said cases, means adapted for supplying blackening and air to the shoes when the cases are lowered, means adapted for tilting said cases when said cases are raised, and a motor adapted for operating both of the above mentioned means.

7 In a shoe shining machine, the combination of cases adapted to surround shoes, movable brushes in said cases, means adapted to simultaneously raise and lower said cases and maintain said brushes in motion so that said cases may approach the shoes and recede therefrom, means adapted for applying blackening to the shoes after said cases have receded, and means controlling the raising and lowering means of said cases so that said cases may approach the shoes twice during one cycle in the operation of said machine.

8. In a shoe shining machine, the combinatlon of cases adapted to surround shoes, movable endless brushes in said cases, means adapted for raising and lowering said cases, means adapted for moving said brushes while said cases are raised, means adapted for tilting said cases, and means controlling the raising and lowering and tilting means of said cases so that said cases are raised and lowered twice during the cycle of operation of said machine and said cases tilted while said cases are raised in the last half of thecyele of said machine operation.

' ,9. In a shoe shining machine, the combination of cases adapted'to surround shoes, movable endless brushes in saidc'ases, movable ]braekets adjaeent'said cases, trunnions carsaid cases are lowered. 15

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two. witnesses.

I ELZA T. S. CLIFFE.

'Witnesses: I v

Cnmms W. CHEW, CAROLINE KLEIN. 

